Rolling door.



PATENTED DEG. 10, 1907.

J. ERWOOIJ. ROLLING DOOR.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 5. 1907.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN ERWOOD, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

ROLLING DOOR.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 10,1907.

Application filed April 5. 1907. $eria1 No. 366532.

proved structure; Fig. 2 is a section in the line 2 of Fig. 1 looking in the direction of the arrow; Fig. 3 is a view showing a modified form of one of the slats; Fig. 4 is a similar view, showing a second modification; and Fig. 5 is a view showing a third modification.

Referring to Figs. 1 and 2, A is a preferably flat web of metal lying substantially in the general plane of the door when the door is unrolled. Thus, with an ordinary vertical door the web, A, will be in a vertical position. All the slats of which the door is composed have similar vertical webs, .A, which together form the bulk of the door surface. The upper edge of each slat is bent into a curved form or hook, B, which incloses a groove, 6. At the lower portion of the flat -web, A, the material is carried diagonally forward and downward, is then re-curved on itself and is brought back to the line of the lower edge of the web, A, so as to form a double, diagonally-disposed shield, C. The material is then carried backwards in a diagonal direction to form a diagonally-disposed portion, D, which terminates in a hook, E, turned'in the opposite direction from-the hook, B, and inclosing a groove, e. The various slats are linked togetheras illustrated so as to form a continuous flexible structure, the upper hook on each slat engaging with the lower hook on the next upper slat and being capable of angular oscillation about the mutual pivot .thus formed.

It will be seen that a door, when made in accordance with the construction above described and illustrated in the drawing, will be double-faced or reversible, so that either side may be placed outwardly, and that in operation the door will roll equally well regardless of which face is next to the sheave or drum around which it is wound. Furthermore, the webs A of the sections composing the door, together with the pivotal points formed by linking the adjacent sections together, are practically in line with the center of gravity, when the door hangs in its closed position.

I am aware that it has heretofore been proposed to form flexible metal doors of interlocking slats having reversed hooks at their upper and lower edges, which engage similar hooks on adjacent slats and that it has also been proposed to shape the material of each slat so as to overhang the lower groove there- -of to prevent the entrance of dirt and moisture to said groove. In the constructions which have heretofore been adopted for this purpose, however, such an arrangement has necessitated the formation on the rear of the door of large open grooves, which readily collect dirt and dust, such dirt and dust being carried upward when the door is rolled up and discharged upon the outer faces of the slats, which maybe then in a horizontal or even in an inverted position, dirt from the back of the door thus entering the very portions from which it is desired to exclude it.

With the construction described above, the lower groove is completely shielded, as

illustrated, and the lower hook is made to start from the lower edge of the main web, so that there is no angle or pocket into which dust can possibly have access from behind so as to be conveyed upward when the door is rolled up.

For the purpose of preventing longitudinal movement of the slats with respect to each other, I secure to each alternate slat a plate,

F, having an ear, f, at right angles to its main plane and riveted or otherwise suitably secured to the slat in question. The ends of the plate, F, overlap the grooves of the slat, so as to prevent any irrelative longitudinal movement. It will beseen that the lower end of the plate terminates somewhat above the groove of the slat to which it is secured, so that the groove opens at its bottom to the air, and that the plate is perforated at f in line with the bottom of the lower groove of the slat above that to which it is secured,

likewise opening that groove to the atmosface of the door, the grooves may fill with water and the openings in question are provided to permit its escape. A modified form of this plate construction is shown in Fig. 3 in connection with a modified form of slat which I will presently describe. In this form a plate, F of about half the length of the plate, F, is secured to each of the slats and terminates, as illustrated, above the bottom of the groove inclosed by the hook upon said slat.

In Figs. 3, 4 and 5 I show three modifications of the slat construction shown in Fig. 2. In the construction shown in Fig. 3, the downwardly-inclined shelf or shield, O, is made in two parts riveted together and the backward diagonallyextending web, D, and hook, E, are made integral with the lower portion of the shield, C. In the construction shown in Fig. 4, the web is provided with the upper and lower hooks turned in opposite directions and the entire diagonally-disposed shield, O, is made in a separate piece and riveted. in position. In the form shown in Fig. 5, the upper hook and web, A, are made in one piece, the diagonallydisposed shield, C, is made in a second piece, and the backward diagonally-extending web, D, and hook, E, are made in a third piece, all the parts being riveted together as illustrated. For certain purposes each of the four forms illustrated may have its advan tages, and from the point of view of construction each requires different machinery and therefore either may be preferred by different users.

I realize that considerable Variation is pos sible inthe construction of my device with out departing from the spirit of my invention and I do not, therefore, intend to limit myself to the specific form shown and described.

I claim as new and desire Letters Patent 1. In combination, a series of slats, each having a central web, hooks at the upper edges of the webs inclosing grooves, hooks at the lower edges of the webs and inclosing grooves in which lie the hooks 011 the next lower slats, said lower hooks and webs being brought into close proximity at the attached edges of the hooks, so as to leave no accessible depressions between the same, and shields continuous with the webs and extending therefrom over the space between the same and the free edges of the hooks.

2. In combination, a series of slats, each having a central web, hooks at the upper edges of the webs inclosing grooves, hooks at to secure by the lower edges of the webs and inclosing grooves in which lie the hooks on the next lower slats to form pivoted coi'mections be tween adjacent slats, said webs and. pivotal connections being in the line with the center of gravity, said lower hooks and webs being brought into close proximity at the attached edges of the hooks, so as to leave no accessible depressions between the same, and shields extending from the webs over the spaces between the same and the free edges of the hooks.

3. In combination, a series of slats, each having a central web, hooks at the upper edges of the webs inclosing grooves, hooks at the lower edges of the webs and inclosing grooves in which lie the hooks on the next lower slats to form pivotal connections between adjacent slats, said webs and pivotal connections being in the line with the center of gravity, said lower hooks and webs being brought into close proximity at the attached edges of the hooks, so as to leave no accessible depressions between the same, and shields continuous with the webs and extending therefrom over the spaces between the same and the free edges of the hooks.

4. A slat of sheet metal comprising a web having an upper hook provided with a downturned edge at its upper end, the metal of the web being carried forward and diagonally downward from the lower edge of the web, thence back upon itself to form a double shield and thence downward to form a hook with an upturned edge lying beneath the shield, no accessible depression being left between the web and. the attached edge of the lower hook.

5. A structure composed. of slats having interlocking hooks at top and, bottom and plates covering the hooks to prevent longitudinal movement of the slats with respect to each other, the plates leaving the bottom of the hooks exposed for the purpose specified.

6. A structure composed of slats having interlocking hooks at top and bottom and plates attached to the alternate slats and covering the hooks adjacent thereto, to prevent longitudinal movement of the slats with respect to each other, the plates terminating above the bottom of the hooks at their lower ends and being perforated to expose the lower portions of the hooks at their upper ends for the purpose specified.

JOHN ERIVOOD.

In presence of A. U. THORIEN, R. A. SOIIAEFER. 

